Young and Restless in China:

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Miranda Hong describes her generation of Chinese as "confused"?
• Why do you think the Chinese government has nicknamed the young people coming home from abroad "returning turtles?"
  • How do you think their work or educational experiences abroad have affected their ambitions in China?
  • Why do you think these young people have returned to China?
• In what ways do you think Ben Wu, the entrepreneur launching the Internet cafe, is representative of the "new" China?
• What do you think are important historical, social or economic factors that have shaped the outlook of the Chinese generation profiled in the film?
  • What do you think are important historical, social or economic factors that have shaped earlier generations in China?
  • What differences or similarities do you see between these two generations?
• Why do you think that several of the profiled characters have turned to religion or spiritual outlets?
• Lu Dong likens Chinese ambition to a poor kid going into a candy store and grabbing too much candy because he has been hungry for so long.
  • Is this an apt analogy about China?
  • Propose another analogy to describe Chinese ambition.
• To what extent are the struggles of the rapper, Wang Xiaolei, unique as a Chinese artist?
  • Do you think that his life is typical of artists elsewhere? Explain your position.
• Who do you think is the happiest of the young people profiled in this documentary and why?
• Why do you think FRONTLINE producers named this program Young & Restless In China?
  • Do you think this is an appropriate title? Why or why not?
  • What other titles would aptly describe this program?